As everyone knows the ballpark came first, Bridgeport wanted the AHL, in stepped the late Roy Boe.

Centerplate was re-branded from a company called Volume Services Of America or (VSA) at that time from Boe's original agreement,
kind of what Smg has been for the Nassau Coliseum.

They managed the new
arena, provided food services, booked events, and this 2021 date people are calling the Sound Tigers lease is simply this from 2001.

Roe Boe's Sound Tigers lease was only with VSA/Centerplate.

The Sound Tigers lease was with VSA/Centerplate.
We all know the history, the Islanders signed a five year affiliation agreement to provide prospects for Roy Boe's new AHL team at the new building called Harbor Yard managed by VSA/Centerplate.

Boe ran out of money by 2004, the Islanders sued the Sound Tigers, Wang bought Boe out becoming Sound Tigers owner, and having VSA/Centerplate as his Smg-like landlord in Bridgeport.

Wang moved a Sound Tigers game to the Coliseum for free admission in March 2005.

Never found a thing on a Sound Tiger lease extension with VSA/Centerplate to take us to 2011.

VSA/Centerplate by 2010-11 was losing big money, wanted
out of fully managing the facility until 2021, Bridgeport City Council/Mayor was
worried about the arena going dark like past teams who left, the city council did not want the workers currently at the building to lose their jobs.

Howard Saffan, Mayor Bill Finch worked well on many things around Bridgeport, and were in negotiations for months. I'm well aware of the 2012 Webster Bank Marquee issues, but wish to stay on point.

DOCUMENTS DO NOT LIE: "PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE"
Wang/Saffan stepped in to take over from VSA/Centerplate but wanted changes in the agreement in red:

Approval came at the same meeting on 2/16/2011.

Then What Happened?
There were later meetings with approval from Mayor Finch, but mostly a formality, the above discussions asked for some renovating to the facility which was done since several times. (Howard Saffan joked about it at the 2011 press conference)

VSA/Centerplate stayed in a reduced role, but Wang took over the 2001-2021 agreement all the
way back to Roy Boe that was signed from 2001. (above)

VSA/Centerplate under Wang was re-branded again to Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment in 2011.

I left that out because it makes things more confusing but that's the name since.

Unless verbal promises & handshake agreements were made not in those documents the Bridgeport Sound Tigers do not have a lease until 2021, and never had one with the city of Bridgeport since their inception.

In fact the only lease the Sound Tigers have ever had was with VSA/Centerplate which Wang took over in 2011 (now called Harbor Yard Sports and Entertainment) which today only has the words "Professional Hockey League" where American Hockey League or AHL used to appear in VSA/Centerplate's 2001 agreement with the city of Bridgeport.

That's what was changed in those 2011 documents.

Sound Tigers lease? AHL team?

The way the amended agreement reads it could be any professional hockey league.

My knowledge of the Sound Tigers since day one remembers the teams, and leagues in that area that folded or moved.

My reading of those documents by the council clearly acknowledge that history.

Bridgeport city council wanted any kind of professional hockey to be played, not a dark building which by 2011 already needed some renovating.

Like I wrote Howard Saffan knows 1000x better than myself, he said AHL or better, however he is out.

Michael Picker who was in Bridgeport when Wang bought out Roy Boe is in at Bridgeport.

Somehow the Hartford Wolfpack are ranked, despite a lower attendance than the Sound Tigers, and who's Ranger branding had been rejected by the Whale fans since day one in 1997.

As written here many times, a Wolfpack playoff game was moved to Webster Bank Arena under Wang's control, some playoff games this year were moved again.

Weeknight playoff games in Hartford produced announced crowds between 2-3,000.

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